Written by Joe Jackson on Mar 1, 2022. Posted in Production News

Liverpool stars as Gotham, London and Birmingham in three new major productions

Liverpool is set to star in three new productions on the big and small screens. The arrival of the final series of BBC’s Peaky Blinders, Warner Bros’ blockbuster The Batman, and ITV’s new adaptation of The Ipcress File means that the city will stage some of film and television’s biggest heroes and anti-heroes. Favoured by filmmakers for doubling as major cities around the world, the forthcoming productions exemplify why Liverpool is the most filmed UK city outside of London.

“We didn’t want to have Times Square standing in for Gotham Square,” explains The Batman director Matt Reeves, “so we added skyscrapers and an elevated train to the gothic architecture of Wellington Square in Liverpool… I wanted it to feel like an America city you’d never been to.” Filming took place across Liverpool in October 2020 as two of the city’s most iconic landmarks – St George’s Hall and Royal Liver Building – were immortalised as Gotham City Hall and Gotham City Police Department.

Meanwhile, Peaky Blinders returns to Liverpool for its final series, with the city now having hosted all six series of the BAFTA-winning period crime drama. The city has been the playground to some of the programme’s most memorable scenes, helping to create that signature Peaky Blinders flavour.

Such noteworthy moments include the very first scene of Tommy Shelby riding his horse through Birmingham 1919 (Powis Street, Toxteth in 2012) as well as first appearance of the original ‘The Garisson’ pub (Stanley Dock). The famous showdown on Formby Beach in series 4 and now the presence of Liverpool Cathedral in series 6 further emphasise how the city is itself a pivotal actor throughout the series.

Finally, The Ipcress File is getting a six-part TV adaptation for ITV. Filmed in Liverpool City Region over eight weeks in early 2021, Liverpool doubled for The Beatles’ London of 1960s and Cold War Berlin before production moved to Croatia. Peaky Blinders series 6 started on BBC One on Sunday 27 February at 9pm, The Batman arrives in cinemas on Friday 4 March and The Ipcress File premieres on ITV on Sunday 6 March at 9pm.

Other productions filmed in Liverpool recently include:

• Doctor Who: Flux (BBC)
• The Curse (Channel 4)
• Silent Witness 25 (BBC)
• Help (Channel 4)
• Time (BBC)
• Funny Woman (Sky)
• Munich: The Edge of War (Netflix)
• The Responder (BBC)
• Anne (ITV)
• Stay Close (Netflix)
• The Tower (ITV)